[gblowfish]

With the Royals starting Spring Training this week, and with all the spring training optimism and warm fuzzies, I thought it would be a good time to exorcise the demons and review the past 43 years of Royals Baseball.

I have compiled what I believe to be the absolute worst of the worst, the pits, the absolute stink of Royals Baseball in the last 43 years. This is my choice for worst starting 25 roster.

Criteria for choice: Includes bloated paychecks for pitiful production, first round draft choices with no return on investment, awful trades, attitude problems, clubhouse cancers, felony convictions, and consistent, long term failure.

Let us fumigate the place, and cast off these evil goblins from our collective conscience. Behold, and hold your nose:

All Time Worst Royals Team, 25 man roster:

IF Starters:
1B: Mike Jacobs, 1B, 2009. Traded from Marlins for Leo Nunez. Hit .228 with 19 HR and 132 Ks.

2B: Terry Shumpert, 1990-1994, .220 ave, 50 walks, 150 Ks. Teamed with David Howard to make arguably the worst keystone combination ever.

SS: Neifi Pérez, SS, 2001-02 : Traded for Jermaine Dye. 2002 hit 236, refused to enter a late-season game at the request of manager Tony Pena.

3B: Craig Paquette, 1996-97: .248 BA, 33 BB, 158 Ks. Awful defensively.

C: Ed Hearn, 1987-88. Traded for David Cone. Played in 13 games.

OF Starters:
Jerry Martin, 1982-83 1983 busted for coke, went to prison for 90 days.

Juan González, 2004 (Juan Gone), Free Agent, Played in 33 games, $4 million contract.

José Guillén, 2008-2010 .256 hitter, $36 million. Clubhouse cancer.

DH:
Calvin Pickering, 2004-05 .228, 8 HR, 56Ks.

Starting Rotation:
Jim Pittsley, 1995, 1997-99: First round pick 1992, career 7-12 with a 6.02 ERA
Scott Elarton, 2006 Opening day pitcher 2006. 56-60, with a 5.31 ERA
Kyle Davies, 2007-2011 Career 43-65 5.59 ERA Highest career ERA vs total starts in MLB history.
Sidney Ponson, 2009 Royals record 1-7 with a 7.36 ERA
Eduardo Villacis, 2004 Career 0-1, 13.50 ERA (one start vs Yankees)

Middle Relief:
Dan Reichert, 1999-2002 First round pick 1997, career 21-25 with a 5.55 ERA
Mac Suzuki, 1999-2001 Career 5-15, with a 7.82 ERA.
Jeff Austin, 2001–02: First round pick 1998, Career 2-3 with a 6.75 ERA
Vin Mazzaro, 2011 Gave up 14 runs in 2 1/3rd innings vs Cleveland.
Albie Lopez, 2003 "The Pez Dispenser." KC Record 4-2 12.71 ERA. Gave up 32 runs in 22 innings pitched.
Yasuhiko Yabuta, 2008-09 Royals signed for $6 million, pitched 2 years, 3-4 record, 7.14 ERA.

Closer:
Mark Davis, P, 1990–92 Former Cy Young winner, signed for $13 million, in 1990 was 0-2 with a 7.24 ERA and four blown saves in nine opportunities.

Bench:
Hal Morris, 1B, OF, DH, 1998: 516 plate appearances, Hit .309 with 40 RBI.
Tony Peña, Jr., SS, 2007-2009. 3 years in KC hit .228 with 18 walks and 140 Ks. Such a weak hitter (3 HRs in 3 years) tried his hand at relief pitching.
Cliff Pastornicky, 3B, 1983 10 games, hit .125.
Mike Difelice, C, 2003 Hit .254 with 25 RBIs

Footnote: Hal Morris is chosen for the most pop with the least tangible results. How do you hit over .300 in 500 plate appearances and generate 40 RBI???

Your thoughts?